Rubber bearing structure



NOV.' l, A EVANS RUBBER BEARING STRUCTURE Hin pensive repair.

Patent/:edl Nov.l 1,1932l I UNITED l,STA-Tas PATENT oFFicB BENJAMIN A. EVANS, F CUYAHOGA FALL y I' COMPANY, 0F Y0RK,VN.Y., A CORPORATION- OF NEW YORK s, oHIo, AssIGNon 'ro ciHE B. F. Goonnrcn Inonnina BEARING STRUCTURE Application led September 20, 1928.v Serial No. 307,098.

This invention relates to bearing structures comprising a member of4 resllient material such as yrubber moving in slidingcontact with another member and especially to Water-lubricated rubber bearings. A

Heretofore such bearing structures usually have been constructed with the rubber"bear ing portion permanently united, as by vulcanization vto the inner wall of the female member of the bearing or to the shaft, with the result that the structure is difficult and expensive to manufacture and to repair.

The chief objects of this invention are to providefeconomyfin the manufacture of bearing structures of the character described and to provide for economy and facility in the repair of such bearings. A more specific object is to provide for readyand easy replacement of locally Wornportions of the bearing and thus avoid the necessity of'a more eX- n attaining these objects .I provide a bear- `Width from theslee'v'e is secured in a suitable mounting in l a boat or other structure and. consequently is easy of access for replacing Worn or .damaged bearing sections.

vThe inner surface of the sleeve may be formed with a circumferential series of equally spaced, longitudinal, undercut grooves 12, 12 which are slightly tapered in the flanged end ofthe sleeve to its opposite end. Mounted in each groove 12 is a metal dove-.tail slide 13 upon which a bearing section 14 of resilient, vulcanized rubber composition is mounted, each slide 13 being somewhat thicker than the depth of its groove 12 and having its outer portion formed Withlateral flanges 15 15 which are spaced a substantial `distance from the .inner f face of the sleeve 10. My invention, howing structure, preferably but notnecessarily the female part of the bearing, having a sectional bearing portion, each section of which is mountable and longitudinally removable independently of the other sections. The invention is especially applicable to rubber bearing structures having polygonal or fiuted bearing surfaces forming an acute angle With the surface of shaft or opposed bearing surface, Which are particularly desirable in water-lubricated rubber bearings, and preferably the sections are so formed that each section provides a single flute or plane face of the bearing.

Of the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a lon itudinal section of a bearing structure embo ying my invention in its preferred form. y

Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof, a' part being broken away for clearness of illustration. y A .A f

Referring to the drawing, 10 is an outer shell or sleeve, usually of metal and preferably of brass or bronze composition'and preferably formed at one end with an out-.

ever, is not limited to such dovetail construction and other fastening means may be used which Willl permit the longitudinal removal of the bearing sections from the ,bearing sleeve. ,f

The bearing section 14 of resilient rubber having a soft-rubber shaft-contacting` portion forming an acute angle with the surface of the shaft is vulcanized to the slide 13 and surrounds the flanges 15 thereon, the latter` thereby being interlocked With the rubber and securely anchored thereto.` The under side'of the rubber structure 14 is shaped to lit the adjacent face of the sleeve V10, and itsllateral faces'are inclined so as to be disposedy A radially thereof,` the AWidth yof the structure being such that when all the sections are mounted in the sleeve their marginal portions will abut leach other, preferably with sufficient pressure to insure a tight joint to prevent lubricant frbm entering between adjacent sections, and also to afford lateralv support for each section and to produce a double interlock whereby excessive strains on the sections Where their rubber portions interlock with the metal is obviated. 'Ilhe outer `face of each bearing section -is convex as shown, or fiat, so as to be disposed tangential'- ly of a shaft mounted in the bearingcat zero pressure.

Each slide 13 has a' threaded bore 16 in its end wh-ich is disposed at the flanged end of the lsleeve 10 for the application of a suitable pulling tool for removing respective bearing sections, upon occasion, as when it is necessary to replace a worn section.

The ianged end ofthe sleeve 10 is formed at its inner periphery with a circumferential sul recess 17, and a two-piece washer 18 is seated' inl` said recess and secured therein by set screws l19, 19 the washer thus being adapted -n to retain the bearing sections in the sleeve.

.The respective bearing sections are easily manufactured by simple molding methods,`

and worn portions of the bearing are easily and quickly replaced without the expense m and. delay incident to the replacement of a complete bearing or a single rubber member providing the entire rubber bearing surface. My invention may be'modilied within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bearing structure comprising a `bearv ing member and a plurality of individually removable longitudlnal bearing sections having rigid attachin portions andishaft-con- 25 tacting portions o resilient rubber mounted upon the surface thereof,each of said sectionsl having a bearin surface tangentially with relation to a sha t at zero pressure.

y8 invwhich the bearing members are dis bular bearin member formed with a circumferential se ies of longitudinal undercut to grooves defined by bottom surfaces disposed parallel to the axis of said member and side surfaces longitudinally inclined toward each other, a plurality of rigid slides provided with complementary roove engaging or- 85 tions for engagement t erewith, and resilient bearing strips mounted on said slides.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of September, 1928. v

i BENJAMIN A. EVANS. er

2. A bearing structure as defined inclaim 80 1 in which the rubber sections are disposed in laterally-abutting relation. v

3. A bearing structure comprising a bearing member, a circumferential seriesof bearing sections of resilient rubber mounted upon u the surface thereof, and means comprising a rigid backing member individual to each v bearing section for securing the sameY to the said bearing member.

.4. A bearing structure asdeiined in claim o 3 in which .the securing means is interlocked lwith the rubber of the section and with the bearing member. f 5. A bearing structure comprisinga bearing member formed with a circumferential 45 series of lon 'tudinal grooves, and respective bearing sectionsy mounted in said grooves, said bearing sections comprising resilient rubber bearin portions in laterally abutting relation outsi e of said grooves and rigid'por- 5o tions interlitted with said grooves.

.6. A bearing structure comprising a bear'- ing menber formed with longitudinal grooves defined by bottom surfaces parallel to the axis thereof and side surfaces which 55 taper toward one end of the member, and bearing sections formed withcomplementally tapere portions interfitting with i said grooves and having lateral resilient cooperating faces outside said grooves.

7. A bearin structure comprising a bearing member ormed lwith laterally' tapered longitudinal grooves, complementally tapered slides mounted in said groo/vee, and rub er bearing sections having arallel lato5 era faces mounted upon respectivelides.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,885,339. November l, 1932'.

BENJAMIN A. EVANS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 27, claim 1, after "surface" insert"disposed"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record lof the case in the Patent Office. 'Y

Signed and sealedthis 16th day of May, A. D. 1933.

i Ms Je (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

